DESTINATION GUIDES
Valley of the Sun: Golf Capital of the American Southwest
The Valley of the Sun -- made up of Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa and a slew of other rapidly growing cities -- is the golf capital of the American Southwest. With close to 200 courses, the Valley can make a legitimate claim to being the most golf-rich region in the United States. Each year millions of golfers from sun-starved winter climates make their way to this sun-splashed golfing pantheon to test their mettle on desert courses that yield more lost balls than birdies.
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Scottsdale is at the epicenter of the Valley's golf map, and traveling golfers will be delighted to find one of the most impressive arrays of high-end daily fee and resort courses in the world. Troon North, Grayhawk, Wildfire, Kierland and the Boulders provide championship golf and luxury accommodations, while properties like We-Ko-Pa, Sun Ridge Canyon and Eagle Mountain stand alone as must-play courses.
To the south and west, Phoenix is home to some of Arizona's most venerable, traditional resorts, including the Camelback Inn and the Arizona Biltmore. Golfers on a budget will also find a solid (and surprisingly challenging) lineup of municipal tracks. The Aguila Golf Course in south Phoenix is designed by renowned Arizona architect Gary Panks, and Superstition Springs Golf Club (Mesa) is popular with the locals.
The West Valley, including the cities of Glendale, Peoria and Goodyear, is home to an admirable collection of quality layouts that don't receive nearly the press as their eastern cousins. Notable designers include Jack Nicklaus II (Estrella Mountain Ranch), Hale Irwin (Palm Valley) and Robert Trent Jones Sr. (Wigwam Resort) and Jr. (Dove Valley Ranch). Golfers still can find a round for under $50 in the West Valley, even in the peak winter season.
The East Valley also serves up some quality golf on the cheap, albeit slightly more publicized. In terms of population, the city of Mesa has quietly crept up to the 43rd largest city in America at 400,000 strong, and Chandler isn’t far behind. Facilities like Ocotillo, Las Sendas and Gold Canyon have put upscale golf on the East Valley map to stay.
Scottsdale, Phoenix, East Valley and West -- whatever your druthers, an amazing golf adventure awaits. A little suntan lotion, a good golf cap and an appreciation for incredible golf course architecture are all you need to have a memorable golf vacation it out in the desert.
Recent Phoenix articles: reviews, features, comments
- Arizona Biltmore Resort Links Course - Phoenix
- Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix: A golf course packed with drama
- Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa's Adobe golf course in Phoenix
- Don't believe the diss: Papago Golf Course still delivers golfers a good Phoenix-Scottsdale bargain
- Find travel deals on Phoenix-Scottsdale, Arizona golf and hotels in early winter
- Phoenix-Scottsdale off course: NBA, MLB, and NFL games now a must-see option
- Phoenix golf courses save time-strapped business travelers a trip to the desert
- Phoenix/Scottsdale golf courses: Where do baseball's stars play in the spring?
- Phoenix's Phantom Horse Golf Club fails to impress reader
- Old school tee boxes set stage at Arizona Biltmore Adobe golf course in Phoenix
- Vintage wine no flight of desert fancy for golfers in Phoenix-Scottsdale
- Raves for Raven Golf Club at Verrado in Phoenix's West Valley
- Phantom Horse GC in Phoenix, AZ
- Raven golf course at South Mountain in Phoenix
- Southern Dunes Golf Club - Phoenix-Scottsdale
- Men-only fuss overshadows Couples' best work at Southern Dunes Golf Club in Maricopa
- Phantom Horse in Phoenix has reader unhappy
- Not just another ad campaign: Phantom Horse delivers truly memorable golf holes
- Golf and kid friendly? Squaw Peak finds that elusive mix
- Phoenix fun at Raven South Mountain: Fast greens, good times
- Golfers have no 'reservations' about Native American clubs in the Southwest
- The votes are in for America's Best Desert Courses
- The Foothills: Still worth the price of admission
- Don't break the bank playing golf in Phoenix - try these courses
- Why golf has gone gourmet in Arizona
- Bonding over birdies and beverages
- Vistal fights back with great green fees
- New and improved Phantom Horse a stiff challenge
- Hitting the beach on the fairways
- Arizona beer cart girls have booze, will travel
- Tourists return big time in Phoenix
- Katherine Roberts makes her own breaks
- It's links-style North vs. traditional, tree-lined South at Talking Stick
- 2003 best of Arizona golf has something for everyone
- Ten scenic (public) wonders of the world of golf in Arizona
- Lookout Mountain offers desert-style and traditional golf
- West side story takes off in Phoenix golf
- Desert Ridge: Like a cruise ship sailing the desert
- 10 places in Phoenix that women love to play
- A tougher TPC could challenge the pros
- Go to golf school for less in summer? Forget about it
- Club pros pick a jewel for their big event
- Arizona courses capitalize on college connections
- Scottsdale Camelback Resorts, ICE bring worldwide golf to Phoenix
- Private courses that are less than private
- From Scottsdale to China for a mega golf resort
- Dan Quayle still comes out swinging
- West side story: Golf is cheap and plentiful outside of Phoenix
- Talking golf on Phoenix radio
- Phoenix gears up for a smashing spring training season
- Thunderbirds Golf Club sells at auction for $4.8 million
- Megaresorts are shaking up the Valley of the Sun
- Best of 2002 for Phoenix has slam dunks and surprises
- December notebook: Phantom Horse adds an island green
- Gary Panks and Devil's Claw in Phoenix, Arizona
- Thunderbirds Golf Club faces foreclosure, with it a big dream may crash and burn
- Talking Rock: A ranch of your own?
- Arizona Green Fees: How to Find Bargains In the High Season
- Resorts in Phoenix Brace for a Shakeup: Part 2 - The Fab Four
- Overseeding: The Greening Of Arizona's Golf Courses
- Inside the Ratings Game at Troubled Apache Stronghold
- Phoenix Resorts Brace for Shakeup: Part 1, The Grand Old Places
- Tom Lehman Renovates Home Course, Upsets Architect
- Arizona Course Notebook for August Outlaw on the Fairways in Scottsdale
- Outlaw on the Fairways in Scottsdale
- Thunderbirds, Phoenix Area Courses Clean Up Water after Virus Outbreak
- Retro Courses Thrive in the Desert
- Playing 18 the Short Way: Three Top Executive Courses in Phoenix
- The Most Popular Places to Play in Phoenix
- Brave the Heat, Reap the Benefits: Sunbelt Golf Destinations Offer Low Summer Rates
- Summer Prices Sizzle Under the Sun
- Northern Arizona Tees Off on Golf: One New Course After Another
- Enron, Phoenix Municipals, and Summer Golf Bargains
- April Notebook: Longbow in for a Change
- 'Dozers Ready on the First Tee: Arizona's Fairways Get a Facelift
- Spring Bargains: Golf Discounts in Arizona
- Thunderbirds Golf Club: Where Every Hole Offers a Surprise
- Ten Phoenix Area Courses under $100
- City of Phoenix cuts prices on its courses
- Avoid the Ordinary: Arizona's New Courses for the New Year
- Phoenix's Best Golf Resorts: Four-Star Caliber Digs Abound
- America's Top 100 Instructors: Leaving the Traditional Approach Behind
- Featured Hole: The 12th at Gold Canyon's Dinosaur Mountain Course is a Site to Behold
- Featured Course: Gold Canyon is the Hidden Gem of Phoenix's East Valley
- The 500 Golf Club: A Track That Always Raises The Checkered Flag
- Biltmore Country Club's 15th Hole
- Legacy Golf Resort: Perfect Location for a Near-perfect Course
- Phantom Horse Golf Club: Antivenom Not Included
- Phantom Horse Golf Club on South Mountain: A Different Kind of Desert Golfing Experience
- The Raven at South Mountain: Midwestern, Traditional Golf Found In The Middle Of Inner-City Phoenix
- Stonecreek Golf Club: Play and Stay Right in the Heart of Phoenix
- Arizona ranges from the funky to the upscale for dining
- Things to Consider Before Purchasing Your Home on the Links
- Overrated and Underrated: Read Up and Get Fired Up
- Desert golf is cheap in the summer, but be prepared for high temps
- Braves and Diamondbacks No Strangers to the Links
- In Search of Non-Desert Golf in the Valley of the Sun
- Northeast Valley Home to Luxurious Golf Course Communities
- Five for Flying: Winging it Near Phoenix's Sky Harbor Airport
- Four Phoenix Area Courses for Under $40
- Spotlight on Stand-by Golf
- When it's Hot in the Valley, Head for the Hills
- West Coast Reacts to "Attack on America"
- The Legacy Golf Resort: Birdies, Bogies, and Buckboards
- Can Grandma be hip? Wigwam Resort tries to find out with some Scottsdale tricks
- Phoenix's Clarendon Hotel reaches for chic cool in a pawnshop world
- Wigwam Gold's revamp resurrects Trent Jones Sr.'s monster bunkers
Scottsdale (Fountain Hills, Carefree and Cave Creek)
- Scottsdale Silverado Golf Club: Scottsdale's secret public golf course flies under the radar
- Saguaro at We-Ko-Pa, Raven, Faldo at Wildfire: Phoenix- Scottsdale's top underdog golf courses
- Saguaro course at We-Ko-Pa Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona
- Scottsdale-area Saguaro lives up to We-Ko-Pa Golf Club pedigree
- Boulders South golf course: Rocks with nicknames, great game and pain
- Teen reader has raves for Scottsdale's We-Ko-Pa Golf Club
- Reader to Baldwin: So what's so bad about a $7 glass of OJ at a golf resort?
- Out-of-the-way Raven Golf Club at Verrado rewards West Valley day-trippers
- Raven Golf Club at Verrado - Phoenix-Scottsdale
- When one round isn't enough: Scottsdale's best second-play golf
- McCormick Ranch GC in Scottsdale: Pine and Palm courses
- Kierland Golf Club in Scottsdale, AZ
- Boulders North a pricey, satisfying Scottsdale-area golf option
- Desert Canyon Golf Club in Scottsdale photo gallery
- Blind shot's bluff: Scottsdale area's Desert Canyon tries your patience for wacky design
- Sanctuary Golf Club at WestWorld - Scottsdale, Arizona
- Sanctuary Golf Course a desert tussle amongst all the WestWorld glamour
- Starfire at Scottsdale C.C. a satisfying breather, nothing to build a trip around
- Have 10 bucks? Cypress Golf Course lets you into the game in high-end Scottsdale
- Fairmont Scottsdale Princess gives golfers big-shot luxury next to some amazing golf
- There's no hiding TPC Scottsdale Desert Course's runway connection
- A fearless group trip leader's guide to golf in Phoenix-Scottsdale
- Hurricane shy? Phoenix-Scottsdale, Las Vegas offer weatherproof golf
- An 18-point golfer's Guide: Scottsdale, Arizona off course
- James Hotel: New York hip but with Arizona problems
- Arizona's worst and most beloved track: Coronado G.C. is both
- Muirhead's Pine Course at McCormick a look inside a mad design mind
- The Millennium Resort has golf, lake, mountains and prickly pear margaritas
- Mountain Shadows proves even executive courses can be overrated
- McCormick Ranch is a cool oasis in a desert of Scottsdale golf
- Sanctuary levels the playing field for short knockers
- Impress the buddies: Come stay at a Luxury Estate
- Views, one-shotters and closing holes make SunRidge worthwhile
- Sun, ants or contrarians agree We-Ko-Pa is great desert course
- Lefty's legacy lingers on the Mickelson Golf Trail
- Grey Goose Gateway Tour heating up in Arizona
- The Phoenician serves up golf with swanky style
- Be on the ball for the FBR (Phoenix) Open
- Way out yonder on Outlaw Nicklaus creates a stiff test
- Scottsdale's 'most exclusive' private course to open soon
- Westin Kierland: History mixed with drama and golf
- Openings for tee times soon in Rocky Point
- Resort Suites of Scottsdale is North Valley's golf headquarters
- Drive balls until you drop in Phoenix
- Grayhawk Golf Club has redefined daily fee golf in the Valley
- Check pretentiousness at the door when visiting Carefree Resort and Villas
- Desert Golf Vacations at the heart of Scottsdale golf scene
- War's impact felt at Phoenix-area golf courses
- Scottsdale drawing golfers from across the globe to the American Southwest
- Embrace the outdoors when you are in Scottsdale
- Shopping reaches new heights in Scottsdale
- New Scottsdale restaurants can drive your tastebuds wild
- A gallery of nutty behavior, the FBR's 16th makes golf bend its ways
- Cactus League fever comes to Scottsdale
- Think about playing the kid brother of the TPC Stadium
- Fox Sports Grill: Gusto, fun and games at a price
- SunRidge Canyon keeping pace with Fountain Hills golf scene
- Scott Miller Wants You to Conquer the Desert
- Show Me the Money! The Priciest Private Places in Arizona
- June Notebook: Try this Doubleheader in the Desert
- Swing into Summer with Cool Values in Scottsdale
- Villa Monterey Battles Back from the Brink
- Marriott Golf Corners Scottsdale Market with Championship Golf Courses
- Gentlemen Only: Southern Dunes Ignites Debate
- Gentlemen Only: Southern Dunes Ignites Debate
- On the Border: Traditional Mexican Fare with a Nuevo Southwestern Twist
- Scottsdale is full of things to do all year round
- We-Ko-Pa Golf Club: Yavapai's Stunning Target Course Bound For Honors
- We-Ko-Pa Golf Club: Yavapai's Stunning Target Course Bound For Honors
- Phoenix Open Preview: No Tiger? No Problem
- Scottsdale: The Golf Mecca of the American Southwest
- Scottsdale Golf Schools: Best in the Country
- Scottsdale: Where Golf is as Good as it Gets
- Scottsdale Boasts Three New Spas
- Scottsdale's Golf and Tennis Calendar
- What's New In Scottsdale: Signature Spas, Renovated Resorts And Great Golf
- Scottsdale CVB Partners With The Canadian Tour
- TPC of Scottsdale: Play Where the Pros Play
- Resort Suites of Scottsdale: Welcome Golf Warriors and Partiers
- Sanctuary Golf Course at Westworld: Better Keep it Straight
- Going Back in Time at McCormick Ranch Golf Club's Challenging Pine Course
- Dove Valley Ranch Golf Club: No Membership Required
- Padre at Marriott's Camelback Golf Club & Resort - Resort
- Indian Bend at Marriott's Camelback Golf Club & Resort - Resort
- The Boulders Resort: Magical, Mystical Landscape Transcends Into Scenic Golf
- Desert Canyon Golf Course
- Thank You, Mr. Jones: Dove Valley Ranch Golf Club
- Francisco Grande Resort
- The Phoenician Golf Resort: Twister on the Tees
- Desert Forest Golf Club: The Desert Course that Started it All
- Rancho Manana Golf Club
- Camelback Golf Club's Indian Bend Course
- Desert Highlands
- Faldo Brings a Touch of Australia to the Wildfire Golf Club
- Gainey Ranch Golf Club: First class resort golf with pretty scenery
- The Golf Club at Eagle Mountain: A Woman's Best Play
- Eagle Mountain: The Desert Destinations Course of the Day
- The Golf Club at Eagle Mountain Takes Flight
- Be Like Phil at Scottsdale's Grayhawk Golf Club
- Grayhawk Talon Course: No. 13 - "Heaven or Hell"
- The 7th Hole at Kierland's Acacia Nine
- Scottsdale's Kierland Golf Course One of Valley's Most Playable
- Kierland Golf Club: Traditional Layout Features Golf For All Skills
- The Legend Trail Golf Club: Troon Does it Again in Arizona
- Faldo Brings a Touch of Australia to the Wildfire Golf Club
- Escape Reality at Scottsdale's Orange Tree Golf Resort
- Orange Tree's No. 18 Wraps Up a Perfect Round
- The Phoenician Golf Resort: Twister on the Tees
- The Phoenician: A Vacation to More Places than One
- Hole Profile: No. 8 at The Phoenician's Oasis Course
- Talking Stick: Crenshaw, Coore Minimalist Blueprint Shines Bright Here
- Capture the Country Club Feeling at Scottsdale's Troon North Golf Club
- Troon North Golf Club: Monument, Pinnacle Set Sonoran Target Standards
- SunRidge Canyon Golf Club: Sonoran Desert Provides Incredible Backdrop
- Tatum Ranch Golf Club: Still Room for Improvement
- The Boulders Resort: Magical, Mystical Landscape Transcends Into Scenic Golf
- Gary Panks Talks About the Outlook for New Courses in Arizona
- New owners promise better golf to come at Legend Trail
- Grayhawk Golf Club: Talon, Raptor Designs Pose Many Chances for Ambush
- Golf? What golf? Kierland Golf Club focuses on the "experience"
East Valley (Mesa, Chandler, Apache Junction)
- Whirlwind Golf Club a raging success in Phoenix, reader says
- Las Sendas offers path to different and difficult desert golf
- Longbow gets a new look, but some wonder if it's any better
- The Desert Road slightly less traveled
- Lone Tree Golf Club is worth the drive to Chandler
- Get away from it all at Sheraton Wild Horse Pass
- Las Sendas still looking to put Mesa on the Valley golf map
- Ocotillo Golf Resort Revolutionizes the Golf Vacation
- Happy Holidays to Me! Seven Courses for Christmas
- Whirlwind Golf Club: Part of Valley's Most Ambitious Resort Project
- Longbow Golf Club: Golf With the Occasional Fly-by
- Longbow Golf Club: Golf With the Occasional Fly-by
- Dobson Ranch Golf Course: Another Fantastic Muni
- Las Sendas Golf Club: Kiss Those Birdies Goodbye
- Las Sendas Golf Club: Footpaths with Valley Views
- Hole Profile: No. 9 at Las Sendas Golf Club
- Mesa's Longbow Golf Club Takes Flight
- East Valley Bargains: Where to Play - Longbow Golf Club
- Ocotillo Golf Club: A Nice Escape from the Desert
- East Valley Bargains: Where to Play - Apache Creek Golf Course
- Growth and Golf in the East Valley: This is Not Your Father's Chandler
West Valley (Glendale, Peoria, Goodyear)
- Front nine at Arizona's Legend at Arrowhead affronts golfer
- Incredible value: Trilogy Vistancia is the golf course find in greater Phoenix
- There's gold in that grass at Vistancia
- Estrella Mountain Ranch Golf Club: Jack Junior's Debut in the Desert
- Estrella Mountain Ranch: 180 Degrees from Scottsdale Experience
- Hole profile from Estrella Mountain Ranch: No. 9 - "The Island"
- Palm Valley Golf Club: An Inspiring Course for Beginners
- Quintero Country Club: A Rising Star in Phoenix's West Valley

